Brittney Griner - WNBA basketball player arrested in Russia for possession of cannabis oil that contained THC. The whole situation took place at a sub-Moscow airport when the player wanted to fly out of Russia due to her assault in Ukraine. Brittney from the airport was taken into custody where she remains today with charges including smuggling a significant amount of a banned substance. She faces up to 10 years in prison. Does the case have political overtones? There are many indications that it does. Here's more information.
WNBA basketball player detained and arrested in Russia for possession of cannabis oil
Brittney Griner is an American player in the WNBA (women's NBA) where she plays for the Phoenix Mercury team. She is a great basketball player who played at the Olympics where she represented her country.
During the WNBA off-season, Griner like many other female basketball players participates in the Russian federation where she plays for the UMMC Yekaterinburg team. Russia is a country where many WNBA players play in the off-season which is due to the good salaries in the Russian league.
However, due to Russia's brutal assault on Ukraine, Griner decided to break her contract and return to the states.
While leaving the country, the basketball player was detained by customs at the Sheremetyevo airport near Moscow.
The reason for the detention was, according to Russian media and authorities, the possession of a significant amount of a banned substance in the form of hash oil (that's what cannabis extract containing THC is called) in e-cigarettes.
The WNBA player was detained and has been in custody for at least a week. She faces up to 10 years in prison.
We are in close contact with both her and her legal representatives in Russia. We are also keeping the WNBA, as well as the NBA, who are also monitoring the case, informed of everything. As it is ongoing, I cannot disclose any details at this time. We are doing everything to make sure she returns home as soon as possible, as her mental and physical health is our main concern
-says the basketball player's agent, Lindsay Kagawa Colas
The former coach of the detained basketball player spoke out on the matter for an American TV station. She made no secret of the fact that the whole incident surprises her, as Brittney is a person who travels quite often between different countries and knows what possession of substances banned in a given country can entail for her.
Let's also remember that the athlete was flying to the US where cannabis e-joints are easy to buy and in most states already legal.
Does the case therefore have political overtones? It is very likely, such situations in Russia have already happened more than once.
Antony Blinken - the U.S. Secretary of State - has indicated that the U.S. government will provide Brittney Griner with all the assistance she needs and will do everything possible to ensure that the basketball player returns home quickly.
pUTIN CHUJ!
